This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

30877 

Vol. 77, No. 101 

Thursday, May 24, 2012 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Parts 26, 121, and 129 

[Docket No. FAA–2006–24281; Amendment 

Nos. 26–6, 121–360, 129–51] 

RIN 2120–AI05 

Aging Airplane Program: Widespread 

Fatigue Damage; Technical 

Amendment 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; technical 

amendment. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is correcting a final 

rule published on November 15, 2010. 

That rule required design approval 

holders of certain existing airplanes and 

all applicants for type certificates of 

future transport category airplanes to 

establish a limit of validity of the 

engineering data that supports the 

structural maintenance program 

(hereinafter referred to as LOV). It also 

required that operators of any affected 

airplane incorporate the LOV into the 

maintenance program for that airplane. 

This document corrects errors in 

codified text of that document. 

DATES: Effective May 24, 2012. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

technical questions concerning this 

action, contact Walter Sippel, ANM– 

115, Airframe/Cabin Safety Branch, 

Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057– 

3356; telephone (425) 227–2774; 

facsimile (425) 227–1232; email 

walter.sippel@faa.gov. 

For legal questions concerning this 

action, contact Doug Anderson, Office of 

Regional Counsel, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, WA 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–2166; facsimile (425) 227– 

1007; email douglas.anderson@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On November 15, 2010, the FAA 

published a final rule entitled, ‘‘Aging 

Airplane Program: Widespread Fatigue 

Damage,’’ (75 FR 69746). In that final 

rule the FAA revised the regulations 

pertaining to certification and operation 

of transport category airplanes to 

prevent widespread fatigue damage in 

those airplanes. For certain existing 

airplanes, the rule required design 

approval holders to evaluate their 

airplanes to establish an LOV. For future 

airplanes, the rule required all 

applicants for type certificates, after the 

effective date of the rule, to establish an 

LOV. Design approval holders and 

applicants must demonstrate that the 

airplane will be free from widespread 

fatigue damage up to the LOV. The rule 

requires that operators of any affected 

airplane incorporate the LOV into the 

maintenance program for that airplane. 

After issuing the final rule, the FAA 

determined minor technical changes are 

needed to correct dates for establishing 

LOVs for Airbus A310 and A300–600 

series airplanes for compliance with 

§ 26.21. Based on that change, the FAA 

determined minor technical changes are 

also needed to correct dates for 

operators to comply with § 121.1115 or 

§ 129.115. We inadvertently included 

those airplanes in the group of airplane 

models for which the following 

compliance times apply: 

• 18 months after January 14, 2011, 

for design approval holders (DAHs). 

• 30 months after January 14, 2011, 

for operators. 

Change to Table 1 of § 26.21 

The change to Table 1 of § 26.21 

corrects the compliance date for the 

Airbus A310 and A300–600 series 

airplanes from 18 to 48 months after 

January 14, 2011. This change is 

relieving and corrects an inconsistency 

with the intent of the rule and does not 

impact the ability of Airbus to comply 

with § 26.21. As stated in the preamble 

of the rule entitled, ‘‘Aging Airplane 

Program: Widespread Fatigue Damage,’’ 

the FAA intended to phase in 

compliance based on the airplane’s 

certification basis relative to § 25.571 

(Group I: pre-Amendment 25–45, Group 

II: Amendment 25–45 up to but not 

including 25–96, and Group III: 

Amendment 25–96 and later). We 

included the A310 and A300–600 series 

airplanes in Group I, with a compliance 

time of 18 months, but they should have 

been included in Group II, with a 

compliance time of 48 months. The type 

certificate data sheet, A35EU, revision 

25, dated May 28 2010, identifies the 

amendment level of the A310 as 

Amendment 25–45. The A300–600 is 

listed with § 25.571 at various 

amendment levels, including some 

versions with pre-Amendment 25–45. 

However, through post-certification 

assessments, Airbus has shown that all 

versions of the A300–600 meet the 

requirements of Amendment 25–45, and 

the FAA has recognized this in other 

rulemaking actions (see Damage 

Tolerance Data for Repairs and 

Alterations, 72 FR 70486). 

Change to Table 1 of § 121.1115 and 

§ 129.115 

The change to Table 1 of §§ 121.1115 

and 129.115 corrects the compliance 

date for operators of Airbus A310 and 

A300–600 series airplanes from 30 to 60 

months after January 14, 2011. This 

change corresponds to the change to 

Table 1 of § 26.21, is relieving, corrects 

an inconsistency with the intent of the 

rule, and does not impact the ability of 

operators to comply with § 121.1115 or 

§ 129.115. As stated in the preamble of 

the rule entitled, ‘‘Aging Airplane 

Program: Widespread Fatigue Damage,’’ 

the FAA intended to phase in 

compliance based on the airplane’s 

certification basis relative to § 25.571. 

We included the A310 and A300–600 

series airplanes in Group I, with a 

compliance time of 30 months, but they 

should have been incorporated in Group 

II, with a compliance date of 60 months. 

Technical Amendment 

This technical amendment corrects 

the compliance dates of § 26.21, 

§ 121.1115, and § 129.115 for Airbus 

A310 and A300–600 series airplanes. 

Because the changes in this technical 

amendment are relieving to affected 

design approval holders and operators 

of those airplanes, and results in no 

substantive change, we find good cause 

exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make 

the amendment effective in less than 30 

days. 

List of Subjects 

14 CFR Part 26 

Aircraft, Aviation safety, Continued 

airworthiness. 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES
30878 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

14 CFR Parts 121 and 129 

Air carriers, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 

Continued airworthiness, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. 

The Amendment 

In consideration of the foregoing, the 

Federal Aviation Administration 

amends Chapter I of Title 14, Code of 

Federal Regulations, parts 26, 121, and 

129, as follows: 

PART 26—CONTINUED 

AIRWORTHINESS AND SAFETY 

IMPROVEMENTS FOR TRANSPORT 

CATEGORY AIRPLANES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 26 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 

44702 and 44704. 

■ 2. Amend § 26.21 by revising Table 

1—Compliance Dates for Affected 

Airplanes, to read as follows: 

§ 26.21 Limit of validity. 

* * * * * 

TABLE 1—COMPLIANCE DATES FOR AFFECTED AIRPLANES

Airplane model 

(all existing 1 models) 

Compliance date— 

(months after January 

14, 2011) 

Airbus: 

A300 Series ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18 

A310 Series, A300–600 Series ........................................................................................................................................ 48 

A318 Series ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48 

A319 Series ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48 

A320 Series ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48 

A321 Series ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48 

A330–200, –200 Freighter, –300 Series .......................................................................................................................... 48 

A340–200, –300, –500, –600 Series ............................................................................................................................... 48 

A380–800 Series .............................................................................................................................................................. 60 

Boeing: 

717 .................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 

727 (all series) .................................................................................................................................................................. 18 

737 (Classics): 737–100, –200, –200C, –300, –400, –500 ............................................................................................. 18 

737 (NG): 737–600, –700, –700C, –800, –900, –900ER ................................................................................................ 48 

747 (Classics): 747–100, –100B, –100B SUD, –200B, –200C, –200F, –300, 747SP, 747SR ...................................... 18 

747–400: 747–400, –400D, –400F .................................................................................................................................. 48 

757 .................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 

767 .................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 

777–200, –300 .................................................................................................................................................................. 48 

777–200LR, 777–300ER, 777F ........................................................................................................................................ 60 

Bombardier: 

CL–600: 2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), 2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) ................................................................... 60 

Embraer: 

ERJ 170 ............................................................................................................................................................................ 60 

ERJ 190 ............................................................................................................................................................................ 60 

Fokker: 

F.28 Mark 0070, Mark 0100 ............................................................................................................................................. 18 

Lockheed: 

L–1011 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18 

188 .................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 

382 (all series) .................................................................................................................................................................. 18 

McDonnell Douglas: 

DC–8, –8F ........................................................................................................................................................................ 18 

DC–9 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 

MD–80 (DC–9–81, –82, –83, –87, MD–88) ..................................................................................................................... 18 

MD–90 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 48 

DC–10 ............................................................................................................................................................................... 18 

MD–10 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 48 

MD–11, –11F .................................................................................................................................................................... 48 

All Other Airplane Models Listed on a Type Certificate as of January 14, 2011 ............................................................ 60 

1Type certificated as of January 14, 2011. 

PART 121—OPERATING 

REQUIREMENTS: DOMESTIC, FLAG, 

AND SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS 

■ 3. The authority citation for part 121 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 40119, 

41706, 44101, 44701–44702, 44705, 44709– 

44711, 44713, 44716–44717, 44722, 44901, 

44903–44904, 44912, 45101–45105, 46105, 

46301. 

■ 4. Amend § 121.1115 by revising 

Table 1—Airplanes Subject to § 26.21, to 

read as follows: 

§ 121.1115 Limit of validity. 

* * * * * 

TABLE 1—AIRPLANES SUBJECT TO § 26.21 

Airplane model Compliance date—months after January 14, 2011 Default LOV [flight cycles 

(FC) or flight hours (FH)] 

Airbus—Existing 1 Models Only: 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 30879 

TABLE 1—AIRPLANES SUBJECT TO § 26.21—Continued 

Airplane model Compliance date—months after January 14, 2011 Default LOV [flight cycles 

(FC) or flight hours (FH)] 

A300 B2–1A, B2–1C, B2K–3C, B2–203 ................... 30 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC 

A300 B4–2C, B4–103 ............................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC 

A300 B4–203 ............................................................ 30 ..................................................................................... 34,000 FC 

A300–600 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 30,000 FC/67,500 FH 

A310–200 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A310–300 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 35,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A318 Series ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A319 Series ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A320–100 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/48,000 FH 

A320–200 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A321 Series ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A330–200, –300 Series (except WV050 family) (non 

enhanced).

60 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A330–200, –300 Series WV050 family (enhanced) 60 ..................................................................................... 33,000 FC/100,000 FH 

A330–200 Freighter Series ....................................... 60 ..................................................................................... See NOTE. 

A340–200, –300 Series (except WV 027 and 

WV050 family) (non enhanced).

60 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC/80,000 FH 

A340–200, –300 Series WV 027 (non enhanced) .... 60 ..................................................................................... 30,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A340–300 Series WV050 family (enhanced) ............ 60 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC/100,000 FH 

A340–500, –600 Series ............................................ 60 ..................................................................................... 16,600 FC/100,000 FH 

A380–800 Series ....................................................... 72 ..................................................................................... See NOTE. 

Boeing—Existing 1 Models Only: 

717 ............................................................................ 60 ..................................................................................... 60,000 FC/60,000 FH 

727 (all series) .......................................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 60,000 FC 

737 (Classics): 737–100, –200, –200C, –300, –400, 

–500.

30 ..................................................................................... 75,000 FC 

737 (NG): 737–600, –700, –700C, –800, –900, 

–900ER.

60 ..................................................................................... 75,000 FC 

747 (Classics): 747–100, –100B, –100B SUD, 

–200B, –200C, –200F, –300, 747SP, 747SR.

747–400: 747–400, –400D, –400F ........................... 30 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC 

757 ............................................................................ 60 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC 

767 ............................................................................ 60 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC 

777–200, –300 .......................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 50,000 FC 

777–200LR, 777–300ER ........................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 50,000 FC 

777F .......................................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC 

72 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC 

72 ..................................................................................... 11,000 FC 

Bombardier—Existing 1 Models Only: 

CL–600: 2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), 2D24 

(Regional Jet Series 900).

72 ..................................................................................... 60,000 FC 

Embraer—Existing 1 Models Only: 

ERJ 170 .................................................................... 72 ..................................................................................... See NOTE. 

ERJ 190 .................................................................... 72 ..................................................................................... See NOTE. 

Fokker—Existing 1 Models Only: 

F.28 Mark 0070, Mark 0100 ..................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 90,000 FC 

Lockheed—Existing 1 Models Only: 

L–1011 ...................................................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 36,600 FC 

188 ............................................................................ 30 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC 

382 (all series) .......................................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC/50,000 FH 

McDonnell Douglas—Existing 1 Models Only: 

DC–8, –8F ................................................................. 30 ..................................................................................... 50,000 FC/50,000 FH 

DC–9 (except for MD–80 models) ............................ 30 ..................................................................................... 100,000 FC/100,000 FH 

MD–80 (DC–9–81, –82, –83, –87, MD–88) .............. 30 ..................................................................................... 50,000 FC/50,000 FH 

MD–90 ....................................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 60,000 FC/90,000 FH 

DC–10–10, –15 ......................................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 42,000 FC/60,000 FH 

DC–10–30, –40, –10F, –30F, –40F .......................... 30 ..................................................................................... 30,000 FC/60,000 FH 

MD–10–10F ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 42,000 FC/60,000 FH 

MD–10–30F ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 30,000 FC/60,000 FH 

MD–11, MD–11F ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC/60,000 FH 

Maximum Takeoff Gross Weight Changes: 

All airplanes whose maximum takeoff gross weight 

has been decreased to 75,000 pounds or below 

after January 14, 2011, or increased to greater 

than 75,000 pounds at any time by an amended 

type certificate or supplemental type certificate.

30, or within 12 months after the LOV is approved, or 

before operating the airplane, whichever occurs latest.

Not applicable. 

All Other Airplane Models (TCs and amended TCs) not 

Listed in Table 2.

72, or within 12 months after the LOV is approved, or 

before operating the airplane, whichever occurs latest.

Not applicable. 

1Type certificated as of January 14, 2011. 

Note: Airplane operation limitation is stated in the Airworthiness Limitation section. 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES
30880 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

* * * * * 

PART 129—OPERATIONS: FOREIGN 

AIR CARRIERS AND FOREIGN 

OPERATORS OF U.S.-REGISTERED 

AIRCRAFT ENGAGED IN COMMON 

CARRIAGE 

■ 5. The authority citation for part 129 

continues to read: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 1372, 40113, 40119, 

44101, 44701–44702, 44705, 44709–44711, 

44713, 44716–44717, 44722, 44901–44904, 

44906, 44912, 46105, Pub. L. 107–71 sec. 

104. 

■ 6. Amend § 129.115 by revising Table 

1—Airplanes Subject to § 26.21, to read 

as follows: 

§ 129.115 Limit of validity. 

* * * * * 

TABLE 1—AIRPLANES SUBJECT TO § 26.21 

Airplane model Compliance date—months after January 14, 2011 

Default LOV 

[flight cycles (FC) or flight 

hours (FH)] 

Airbus—Existing 1 Models Only: 

A300 B2–1A, B2–1C, B2K–3C, B2–203 ................... 30 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC 

A300 B4–2C, B4–103 ............................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC 

A300 B4–203 ............................................................ 30 ..................................................................................... 34,000 FC 

A300–600 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 30,000 FC/67,500 FH 

A310–200 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A310–300 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 35,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A318 Series ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A319 Series ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A320–100 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/48,000 FH 

A320–200 Series ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A321 Series ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 48,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A330–200, –300 Series (except WV050 family) (non 

enhanced).

60 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A330–200, –300 Series WV050 family (enhanced) 60 ..................................................................................... 33,000 FC/100,000 FH 

A330–200 Freighter Series ....................................... 60 ..................................................................................... See NOTE. 

A340–200, –300 Series (except WV 027 and 

WV050 family) (non enhanced).

60 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC/80,000 FH 

A340–200, –300 Series WV 027 (non enhanced) .... 60 ..................................................................................... 30,000 FC/60,000 FH 

A340–300 Series WV050 family (enhanced) ............ 60 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC/100,000 FH 

A340–500, –600 Series ............................................ 60 ..................................................................................... 16,600 FC/100,000 FH 

A380–800 Series ....................................................... 72 ..................................................................................... See NOTE. 

Boeing—Existing 1 Models Only: 

717 ............................................................................ 60 ..................................................................................... 60,000 FC/60,000 FH 

727 (all series) .......................................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 60,000 FC 

737 (Classics): 737–100, –200, –200C, –300, –400, 

–500 737 (NG): 737–600, –700, –700C, –800, 

–900, –900ER.

30 ..................................................................................... 75,000 FC 

60 ..................................................................................... 75,000 FC 

747 (Classics): 747–100, –100B, –100B SUD, 

–200B, –200C, –200F, –300, 747SP, 747SR 

747–400: 747–400, –400D, –400F ........................... 30 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC 

757 ............................................................................ 60 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC 

767 

777–200, –300 .......................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 50,000 FC 

777–200LR, 777–300ER ........................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 50,000 FC 

777F .......................................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC 

72 ..................................................................................... 40,000 FC 

72 ..................................................................................... 11,000 FC 

Bombardier—Existing 1 Models Only:.

CL–600: 2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), 2D24 

(Regional Jet Series 900).

72 ..................................................................................... 60,000 FC 

Embraer—Existing 1 Models Only: 

ERJ 170 .................................................................... 72 ..................................................................................... See NOTE. 

ERJ 190 .................................................................... 72 ..................................................................................... See NOTE. 

Fokker—Existing 1 Models Only: 

F.28 Mark 0070, Mark 0100 ..................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 90,000 FC 

Lockheed—Existing 1 Models Only: 

L–1011 ...................................................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 36,000 FC 

188 ............................................................................ 30 ..................................................................................... 26,600 FC 

382 (all series) .......................................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC/50,000 FH 

McDonnell Douglas—Existing 1 Models Only: 

DC–8, –8F ................................................................. 30 ..................................................................................... 50,000 FC/50,000 FH 

DC–9 (except for MD–80 models) ............................ 30 ..................................................................................... 100,000 FC/100,000 FH 

MD–80 (DC–9–81, –82, –83, –87, MD–88) .............. 30 ..................................................................................... 50,000 FC/50,000 FH 

MD–90 ....................................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 60,000 FC/90,000 FH 

DC–10–10, –15 ......................................................... 30 ..................................................................................... 42,000 FC/60,000 FH 

DC–10–30, –40, –10F, –30F, –40F .......................... 30 ..................................................................................... 30,000 FC/60,000 FH 

MD–10–10F ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 42,000 FC/60,000 FH 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 30881 

TABLE 1—AIRPLANES SUBJECT TO § 26.21—Continued 

Airplane model Compliance date—months after January 14, 2011 

Default LOV 

[flight cycles (FC) or flight 

hours (FH)] 

MD–10–30F ............................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 30,000 FC/60,000 FH 

MD–11, MD–11F ....................................................... 60 ..................................................................................... 20,000 FC/60,000 FH 

Maximum Takeoff Gross Weight Changes: 

All airplanes whose maximum takeoff gross weight 

has been decreased to 75,000 pounds or below 

after January 14, 2011, or increased to greater 

than 75,000 pounds at any time by an amended 

type certificate or supplemental type certificate.

30, or within 12 months after the LOV is approved, or 

before operating the airplane, whichever occurs latest.

Not applicable. 

All Other Airplane Models (TCs and amended TCs) Not 

Listed in Table 2.

72, or within 12 months after the LOV is approved, or 

before operating the airplane, whichever occurs latest.

Not applicable. 

1Type certificated as of January 14, 2011. 

Note: Airplane operation limitation is stated in the Airworthiness Limitation section. 

* * * * * 

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 18, 

2012. 

Lirio Liu, 

Acting Director, Office of Rulemaking. 

[FR Doc. 2012–12658 Filed 5–23–12; 8:45 a.m.] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–1341; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NE–41–AD; Amendment 39– 

17062; AD 2012–10–13] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Continental 

Motors, Inc. (CMI) Reciprocating 

Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) 

models TSIO–520, TSIO–550–K, 

TSIOF–550K, and IO–550–N series 

reciprocating engines with new or 

rebuilt CMI starter adapters installed 

between January 1, 2011 and November 

20, 2011. That AD currently requires 

replacing affected CMI starter adapters 

with starter adapters eligible for 

installation. This AD requires the same 

actions, but to an expanded population 

of reciprocating engines. This AD was 

prompted by two additional reports 

received of fractures in starter adapter 

gear shafts in certain additional part 

number (P/N) CMI starter adapters since 

we issued the existing AD. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent starter 

adapter gear shaft failure which could 

cause oil scavenge pump failure and 

engine in-flight shutdown. 

DATES: This AD is effective June 8, 2012. 

We must receive any comments on 

this AD by July 9, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Continental Motors, 

Inc., PO Box 90, Mobile, AL 36601; 

phone: 251–438–3411, or go to: http:// 

tcmlink.com/servicebulletins.cfm. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 

9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Office (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anthony Holton, Aerospace Engineer, 

Atlanta Certification Office, FAA, Small 

Airplane Directorate, 1701 Columbia 

Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30337; phone: 

404–474–5567; fax: 404–474–5606; 

email: anthony.holton@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On December 5, 2011, we issued AD 

2011–25–51, Amendment 39–16891 (76 

FR 77382, December 13, 2011). That AD 

applied to certain CMI models TSIO– 

520, TSIO–550–K, TSIOF–550K, and 

IO–550–N series reciprocating engines 

manufactured between January 1, 2011 

and November 20, 2011 with certain 

starter adapters installed. That AD also 

applied to those same engine models 

where a replacement new or rebuilt 

starter adapter from CMI was installed 

between January 1, 2011 and November 

20, 2011. That AD requires replacing 

affected CMI starter adapters with 

starter adapters eligible for installation. 

That AD resulted from five reports of 

fractures in starter adapter gear shafts in 

certain P/N CMI starter adapters. We 

issued that AD to prevent starter adapter 

gear shaft failure which could cause oil 

scavenge pump failure and engine inflight shutdown. 

Actions Since AD 2011–25–51 Was 

Issued 

Since we issued AD 2011–25–51 (76 

FR 77382, December 13, 2011), we 

received 2 additional reports of fractures 

in starter adapter shaft gears in CMI 

starter adapters not listed in that AD. 

This AD supersedure expands the 

population of affected starter adapters 

by adding five P/Ns, P/Ns 642085A18; 

642085A22; R–642085A18; R– 

642085A19; and R–642085A22, to the 

applicability. This AD supersedure also 

expands the applicability from new or 

rebuilt CMI starter adapters installed 

between January 1, 2011 and November 

20, 2011, to, new or rebuilt CMI starter 

adapters installed before November 20, 

2011. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are issuing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES